Garment-fastening or other holding device.



PATENTED MAY 19, 1903.

. J. I. J. GUNNING. GARMENT FASTENING OR OTHER HOLDING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 6, 1902.

H0 MODEL.

m: scams PETERS up. worduwu w UNITED STATES PATENT Patented May 19 1909;.

FFICE.

JAMES F. J. GUNNING, OF TORONTO, CANADA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 728,796, dated May 19, 1903.

Application filed October 6, 1902. Serial No. 126,143. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES F. J. GUNNING, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Toronto, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Garment- Fastening or other Holding Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to collar, cod, and other like button-fastening means for garments or apparel, necktie, scarf, and other holders, and more especially to such an article as employs a button-base of thetype known in the trade as a self-shank button, to which my holding device may be detachably applied.

My object is to provide an article of manufacture of the character indicated which shall be inexpensive, simple, and durable and which will obviate the objections to the use of metallic buttons or other dangerous structural devices, especially those wherein metal is employed as the base, for it is well known that there is a serious objection to the use of such devices because of the corrosion of the metal resulting from the chemical efiect of the exhalations from the body upon such metal, thereby frequently causing irritation and resulting in disease of the skin and producing serious and uncomfortable sores; and my further object is to provide such a fastening and holding device as when applied to a collar or the like accidental disengagement of the button or fastener from the garment or collar or cuff will be obviated.

With these general objects in view my incentral cross-section of a button with my detachable fastening-shank applied thereto. Fig. 5 is a bottom plan View of a modification, and Fig. 6 is a side View thereof.

Referring now to the drawings, in which the same or similar reference characters relate to the same or corresponding parts in all the views, my detachable fastening-shank is into the shape shown in Figs. 1, 4, 5, and 6,

thus constituting a shank or stem for a button or the like, by reference to which it will be seen that the loops 1 and 5 extend in opposite directions from the posts 2, the latter of which are spaced or located at such distance apart as required for the buttonhole through which they are to pass and are adapted to bear upon the base at substantially right angles to the face thereof, while the attaching-legs 4 lie in substantially the same plane with the loop 5 and extend in opposite directions transversely with respect to the posts 2, and in normal state ,these legs lie in contact or close proximity to each other. The eyes 3 are brought into alinement, so that a pin B may be passed through the same when desired, as hereinafter more particularly explained. In order to attach the'shank thus formed to a button, such as 6, which represents the form most approved by the trade, wherein the back is oval or rounded and the face is provided with the ordinary projecting boss or post 9, recessed on each side so as toform a bridge 8, constituting a stem or shank receiving element, underneath which the perforation for the shank-legs extends, I preferably provide the face of the button with intersecting recesses or grooves 7 and 10, the former for the reception of the legs 4 and adapted to hold said legs flush with the face of the button, while the latter form countersunk recesses for the reception of the loops 5. In Fig. 3 I have shown the shank with its legs expanded ready for insertion into the perforation under the bridge 8, such perforation being preferably a continuation of the groove 7. When the legs are pulled apart, as indicated, and their ends brought within range of the perforation under the bridgeS and released, the

resiliency of the metal will cause the legs to fly quickly into the position shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the loops 5 seating themselves in the appropriate grooves or recesses 10.

.In Figs. 5 and 6 I have shown one modification of my invention, wherein the loop l is formed by overlapping the opposite sides of the wire or strip and the loops 5 in a similar manner, the other parts being the same as in the previously-described form, and it is obvious that other variations in the formation of the loops and posts may be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of my invention.

In all forms it will be observed that the posts 2 are eccentrically disposed with reference to the button-base, so that when the device is in use-for example, in the collar Athe extensions or legs 2, which lie against the buttonface, will serve to prevent by contact with the said face swinging movement of the upper edge of the button from the collar toward the neck, because of the greater leverage of the base above the posts, which necessarily throws the loop 1 or 1 toward the collar, and thereby prevents disengagement of the collar from said retaining-loop. It should be further noted that by extending the posts alongside of the shank-holding element or post 9 the edges 9 of the latter beingin close proximity or contact with'the said posts preserves a fixed and determined distance between the posts, thereby holding the same at proper dis tances apart for a given buttonhole and further adds to the strength and durability of the device, while at the same time these elements are sufficiently resilient to permit conipression to suit different apertures of vary ing widths.

When'desired, the eyes 3, which, with the other loop elements of the device, impart resiliency to the structure, may be utilized as a fastening means for a pin B, either to secure a scarf or when such pin is carried by a piece of jewelry to hold the latter in place, which retaining-loop 1 or 1 when the button is used at the back of the collar may be effectually utilized as a necktie-holder to prevent the said tie from sliding, and, furthermore, the button-base may be dispensed with in some cases and my improved shank utilized as a holding or fastening device for various purposes.

It will be observed from the foregoing description that a fastening device made in accordance with my invention is not only simple in construction and economical in manufacture, thereby making it possible to materially reduce the cost to the user, but it'essentially and materially facilitates the application and removal of such devices, as it obviously requires little or no effort to slip the retaining-loop readily through the buttonhole or aperture, and when inserted the fastening device is not only efiectively retained in place, because of the leverage exerted by the eccentrically-disposed posts, but also because the posts are so distanced that the buttonhole or aperture may press the said resilient posts toward each other, thereby maintaining a firm, but not too tight, hold thereupon, whilethe edges of the leg-securing elementsuch, for example, as the bridgelimits such compression. Furthermore,when the retaining-loop is as long as the attachingloop at the back, as is the case in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the ends can be brought together with as much case when the aperture is too small as when the collar, cuff, or the like is too large, and this without moistening, softening, or defacing the garment or apparel. Moreover, it is apparent that my fastening device embodies not only facility in application and removal, but when applied to collars or the like it preserves perfect alinement of the overlapping ends under all circumstances and contributes to the comfort of the wearer, while it possesses the maximum strength and durability for this class of devices.

I claini 1. As a new article of manufacture, a flexible blank of resilient material for a garment or other fastening device consisting of a transverse bar adapted to form, when bent, a retaining-loop having bars for forming posts extending at an angle from the opposite ends of the same, each having looped extensions terminating in fastening-legs lying in, substantially, the same plane with and parallel to, the posts, substantially as described.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a flexible blank of resilient material consisting of a transverse retaining-loop forming a bar having angularly-disposed post-forming bars at each end, with eyes at the junction of said post-forming bars and adapted to aline when the blank is bent into the required shape, and extensions for forming holding-legs, substant-ially as described.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a flexible blank of resilient material for forming a garment or other fastening device consisting of a transverse bar for forming a retainingloop, angularly-disposed post-forming bars joined by looped eyes to each end thereof, and looped extensions terminating in holding or securing legs lyiugin substantially the same plane with, and parallel to, the post-forming bars, substantially as described.

4. As a new article of manufacture, a fasteningor holding stem or shank consisting of a strip of flexible and resilient material bent into a retaining-loop, posts extending at an' angle therefrom and terminating in transverse holding-legs adapted to lie normally in close proximity to each other, substantially as described.

5. As a new article of manufacture, a garment-fastening or other holding device comprising a suitable base having a stem-receiving element, and a shank or stem consisting of a flexible strip of resilient material bent into a retaining-loop, with posts extending substantially at right angles to said loop and terminating in legs lying transversely with respect to said posts, and engaged by the stem or shank receiving element of the base, substantially as described.

6. As a new article of manufacture, a garment-fastening or other holding device comprising a suitable base having a stem-receiving element, and a shank or stem consisting of a flexible strip of resilient material bent into a retaining-loop, connected by looped eyes in alinement, and posts extending substantially at right angles to said loop and terminating in legs lying transversely with respect to said posts and engaged by the stemreceiving element of the base, substantially as described.

7. As a new article of manufacture, a garment-fastening or other holding device comprising a suitable base having a stem-receiving element, and a shank or stem consisting of a flexible strip of resilient material bent into a retaining-loop, with posts extending substantially at right angles to said loop and terminating in legs lying transversely with respect to said posts and engaged by the stemreceiving element of the base, each of said legs being joined to its respective post by a loop lying against the base, substantially as described.

8. As a new article of manufacture, a garment-fastening or other holding device comprising a suitable base having a stem-receiving element, and a shank or stem consisting of a flexible strip of resilient material bent into a retaining-loop connected by looped eyes in alinement, and posts extending substantially at right angles to said loop and terminating in legs lying transversely with respect to said posts and engaged by the stemreceiving element of the base, each of said legs being joined to its respective post by a loop lying against the base, substantially as described.

9. Asa new article of manufacture, a garment-fastening device comprising a buttonbase having a perforated boss at its back, and a stem or shank consisting of a strip of flexible and resilientvmaterial bent into a retaining-loop, and posts extending at substantially right angles thereto and spaced apart, and securing-legs extending transversely from op posite posts and engaging the perforated boss to secure the shank to the button-base, substantially as described.

10. As anew article of manufacture, a garment-fastening or other holding device, comprising a button-base having a grooved back and a bridge over the same with shoulders projecting on each side of the bridge, and a stem or shank consisting of a strip of flexible and resilient material bent into a retaining-loop, and posts extending therefrom at substantially right angles to the button-base, with looped extensions lying in close proximity to the shoulders of the bridge and terminating in transverse securing-legs passing under the bridge and seated in the groove, substantially as described.

11. As a new article of manufacture, a garment or other holding device comprising a button-base having a projecting bridge at the back, with shoulders extending from each side thereof, and a stem or shank consisting of a wire bent into a retaining-loop, with posts extending therefrom at substantially right angles to the button-base, and extensions therefrom lying against the back of the button-base and separated by the bridge, with securing-legs projecting from opposite extensions through the space under the bridge to fasten the base to said stem, substantially as described.

12. As anew article of manufacture, a garment-fastening or other holding device, comprising a button-base having a bridge-piece and a groove passing under the same, with recesses on'each side of the bridge, and a stem or shank consisting of a retaining-loop portion having posts extending therefrom at substantially right angles to the button-base, and looped extensions lying in the recesses on-opposite sides of the bridge and terminating in transverse securing-legs passing in opposite directions under the bridge, substantially as described.

13. As a new article of manufacture, a garment-fastening or other holding device, comprising a button-base having a bridge-piece 011 its back face, and a stem or shank consisting of a retaining portion, a post portion at substantially right angles to the buttonbase and eccentrically engaging the said base, with securing-leg portions extending from the post portion and engaging the bridge near the center of the button, substantially as and for the purpose described.

14. As a new article of manufacture, a garment-fastening or other holding device comprising a button-base having a bridge on the back face and with recesses on each side thereof, and a stem or shank consisting of a wire bent into a retaining-loop, posts extending therefrom at substantially right angles to the button-base and bearing thereon at points eccentrically disposed with respect to the axis of the button-base, and looped extensions lying in the said recesses and terminating in transverse securing-legs passing under the bridge, substantially as described.

15. As a new article of manufacture, a garment-fastening or other holding device comprising a button-base with a bridge on the back, a groove under the same, and recesses on opposite sides of the bridge intersecting the said groove, and a stem or shank consisting of a retaining-loop, posts extending at substantially right angles to, and bearing eccentrically upon, the button-base, and

joined to the retaining-100p by looped eyes name tozthis specification in the presence of in alinement with each other, and looped extwo subscribing witnesses.

tensions lying in the recesses and terminating in transverse securing-legs passing un- G' 5 der the bridge and seated in the groove, sub- Witnesses:

stantially as described. M. H. MILES,

In testimony whereof I have signed my] O. W. FOWLER. 

